Print This Page

Sun Mercury Connections

To understand the concept of Sun Mercury connections we first have to go back into the past for a moment.

In the early 1980s a "new" approach of assessing major themes in a natal chart saw the light by the "invention" of the so-called "ZIP Code."

It was a method invented by Dr. Zipporah Dobyns (hence the name "ZIP Code") and further propagated by her daughter Maritha Pottenger, that made use of the so-called astrological alphabet.

The concept of the astrological alphabet is that astrology deals with twelve basic ways of being, twelve human drives and modes of operation that are all needed in this world.

These twelve sides of life are mirrored in the natal chart by a planet, a house and a sign.

So it is in the astrological alphabet that Mars, the 1st house and Aries all share the same principles (though they are NOT the same!).

Venus, the 2nd house and Taurus also share the same principles and this goes on for the other planets, signs and houses.

What the theory of the ZIP Code or astrological alphabet presents is that certain groups of planet/house/sign combinations share similar themes.

For example: Mars in Libra or Mars in the 7th house share the same principles. The 7th house is in mundane astrology a Libra house (whatever zodiac sign is on the cusp of the 7th house in the natal chart).

This system has been enhanced by German astrologers who developed their own system based on the same principles but they converted the signs and houses to their respective planetary rulers.

For example: Mars in Libra becomes a Mars/Venus theme because Venus always rules Libra. Mars in the 7th house too becomes a Mars/Venus theme because the 7th house is associated with Libra, which is ruled by Venus in mundane astrology.

Also, the ruler of the 1st house (in mundane astrology ruled by Mars because Mars always rules Aries and Aries is always the 1st sign in the natural order of the zodiac) in the 2nd house (in mundane astrology ruled by Venus as the ruler of Taurus) is another Venus-Mars analogy.

The more you find such analogies, themes or connections between two planets, the more this planetary combination becomes an important part of the natal chart and the life of the native.

To find out the connections or analogies between planets, we take especially into account:

• planets in zodiac signs
• planets in houses
• the aspects between planets (the tighter the stronger)
• the rulerships
• solstice points

Planets in houses are more important and powerful than the planets in the zodiac signs because they work on a more personal and individual level (we use the Topocentric house system which gives almost the same results as the Placidus house system).

When do we have Sun Mercury connections, themes or analogies?

In most cases, the following configurations are used (there are more though (!) to define Sun Mercury connections but this would lead us too far and make it more complicated than necessary):

• Mercury in the 5th house
• the Sun in the 3rd or 6th house
• the ruler of the 5th house in the 3rd or 6th house
• the ruler of the 3rd or 6th house in the 5th house
• the Sun in a close conjunction or semi-sextile with Mercury
• Mercury at the solstice point of the Sun
• the Sun in Gemini or Virgo
• Mercury in Leo

When at least three of the above listed analogies or connections can be found in the natal chart, we have a very powerful Sun Mercury connection that will be felt and noticed in the character and life of the native.

What do Sun Mercury connections signify?

This connection is a very common one as the Sun and Mercury are always closely gathered together.

One of its most remarkable traits so far that we correlate to this connection has to do with taking everything (extremely) personal and subjective.

People with dominant Sun Mercury connections have it difficult to remain neutral, see things from a wider and more neutral perspective.

They tend to talk a lot, vent a lot, communicate a lot and it does not come as a surprise that some of them can be good teachers, speakers or a radio host, among others (all based upon the principle of verbal self-expression).

Because of that, they may have it difficult to keep something secret if no other connections say otherwise.

There are often commercial interests as well.

The appearance can be "bright" and youthful.

They also love changing the place often, traveling, making trips and be "on the go."

People with powerful Sun Mercury connections in the natal horoscope need lots of contacts and encounters and tend to be very rational, cerebral.

They have a wide variety of interests.

Share